Knitting machine



Sept. 29, 1953 M. zlMlc ET A. 2,653,460

KNITTING MACHINE Llnnwmun...

Sept. 29, 1953 M. ZlMlC ET AL KNITTING /MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 15, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 lgJA.

(Y 'M @Q Sept. 29, 1953 M. zlMlc ET AL 2,653,460

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 13, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 TI i t d it a f MMM MWA@ we, /v @JW fw MYX sept. 29,' 1953 Original Filed Sept. 13, 1945 M. ZIMIC ET AL KNITTING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 29, 1953 M. zlMlc ET AL 2,653,460

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 13, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept 29, 1953 M. zlMlc ET AL 2,653,460

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 13, 1945 9 Sheets-Shea?l 6 Iig 5' /I L un o IIII GMI/mq Sept. 29, 1953 M. zlMlc x-:TAL 2,653,460

KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 13, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Sept. 29, 1953 M. zlMlc 1' AL 2,653,460

' KNITTING MACHINE Original Filed Sept. 13, 1945 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 n me/www5 Sept. 29, 1953 M. zlMlc r-:TAL

KNITTING MACHINE 9 sheets-sheet 9 Original Filed Sept. 15, 1945 35' llo /09 patented Sept. 29,

2,653,460 KNrr'rlNG MACHINE Michael Zimic, New York, and Anton Miskovsky, Deer Park, N. Y.; said Miskovsky assignor to said Zimic Original application September 13, 1945, Serial No. 615,936. Divided and this application Septomber 19, 1949, Serial No. 116,487

5 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the field of machine knitting and more particularly, to a fully automatic links and links machine.

Among the objects of the present invention lies the provision of a novel and useful knitting machine of the links and links type wherein there is .the simultaneous production of a plurality of knitted webs, and methods of knitting the same.

Another object herein lies in the provision" of `a machine of the character described which, by virtue of the organization of the parts and subassemblies thereof, provides a greater quantity of knitted fabric within the same space as would be occupied by a plurality of independent ma'- chines, or conversely, a substantially equal amount of knit goods in a corresponding or lesser amount of factory space.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a plural capacity links and links knitting machine wherein through a novel co-action of the parts r thereof, controls of a master unit aiiect a series of controlled units. By virtue of the tandem operation and construction, certain control mechanisms need be only provided once for a given machine with a consequent saving in rst cost and servicing.

A still further object of the present invention lies in the provision of improved jack construction, co-acting with split fiat needle beds and needles, so that a superior knitting actionv is obtained.

Another object herein lies in the provision of improved carriage construction so that the shiftingy of the butts and hence the jacks may be accomplished in a superior manner with a consequent improvement in the action and knitting ability of the many needles in the beds. The present improved carriages also facilitate a new action of the yarn controls.

Another object herein lies in the provision of simple and substantially trouble-proof control means for producing co-action between the master unit and the controlled units.

Another object lies in the provision of an improved method of knitting of substantially continuous webs of knitted fabrics.

A feature of the present invention lies in the fact, that although increased production is obtained, various features of the automatic links andk links construction, such as flexibility and adjustability, are retained, whereby `the knitted fabrics may be varied as to the character of the stitches.

A further feature of the present construction lies in the provision of vsafety devices by the use of which imperfections in the yarn or knitting operations cause a stoppage of the machine and the construction is such that servicing may be done with a minimum of lost time by the operator or repairer.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of lthis disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

The inventive ideas involved are capable of receiving a variety of expressions, one of which, for purposes of illustration, is shown in the accompanying drawings; but it will be expressly understood that said drawings are used merely for the purpose of facilitating the description of the invention as a whole, and not to dene the limits thereof, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

This application is a division of our copending application, Ser. No. 615,936, iiled September 13, 1945, for Knitting Machines, now Patent No.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout' the several views:

Figure 1 and Figure l-a, together form a general plan of View of an embodiment of the invention. It is intended that these two iigures be consulted simultaneously by placing them in juxtaposition with Figure l on the left.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view partly in section of one of the controlled carriages of Figure 1.

Figure 2-a is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view partly in section of the master carriage shown at the left of Figure l-a.

Figure 2-b is an enlarged fragmentary detail elevational View of the mechanism seen at the right end of Figure l-a.

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan View of the control carriage which'is shown at the left of Figure 1a.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane ll-l on Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing details of the yarn control mechanism.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the buck Yor right end of Figure 1-a.

Figure 7 is a schematic plan View of the stitch cams on the control carriage substantially at the level of the plane 'l-l on Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a schematic fragmentary Vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 8 8 on kFigure 7.

Figure 9 is a schematic fragmentary vertical sectional View as seen from the plane 9-9 on Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a schematic fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane |9| on Figure 1.

Figure 11 is a schematic fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane on Figure '7.

Figure 12 is a schematic fragmentary vertical sectional view as seen from the plane I2-I2 on Figure '1.

Before entering upon a detailed description of the construction of the machine 'by means of which the various knitting steps are accomplished, it is believed that a better understanding of the entire mechanism and methods of operation will be obtained by first giving a synopsis.

As shown in Figures l and l-a, a bank of individual knitting units is provided. As an example, three knitting units 22, 23 and 24 are shown. Groups of needles in each of the units do the knitting and these needles are actuated by stitch cams carried by the carriages 50, and 52. The carriage 59 is the master carriage and the carriages 5| and 52 are the controlled carriages. In some instances, for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary repetition, parts on the units 23 and 2li corresponding to the unit 22 are given the same reference character with the addition of a letter suffix, c in unit 23 and b in unit 24. Each of the knitting units has a station-ary needle bed and a movable needle bed, the latter being shifted in unison on all units. A yarn selecting mechanism in the master unit controls the feeding of the yarn in the controlled units. The size of the knitted stitches in the master unit is controlled by a selector for this purpose, which shifts stitch size cams in master unit, and this selection is transmitted to the controlled units. The width of the knitted fabric web is determined by shiftable cams in the master unit and this is transmitted to the controlled units. As to which ends of the double point needles in the links Iand links machine are used, this is controlled 'by novel structure and the control is effective in each of the knitting units 22, 23, and 24.

In the general type of machine herein shown, the usual front and rear beds 29 and I9 are provided in which the needles 33 are controlled to form stitches through the medium of a separate lock mechanism supported by each of the carriages 5U, 5|, and 52, which continuously reciprocate over the needle beds in each of the knitting units. The carriage 50 is connected to the carriage 5| by a connecting rod 44, the carriage 5| is connected to the carriage 52 by the connecting rod 45. Each of the connecting rods 44 and 45 as provided, at the ends 46, 41, 48, and 49 is provided with a downwardly opening notchy which is adapted for detachable engagement lwith the shanks of headed pins which project (forwardly from the rear portions of the carriages. See, for example, the pins |35 and |83 on Figure 2 and |83Y on Figure Z-a. The carriages in reciprocating `over the needle beds control the needle jacks associated with the various needles to accomplish the regular knitting operations.

For'the purposes of the description, it will be assumed that opration is initiated with the carriages at their left hand positions.

Turning to Figures lf and l-a, the machine generally is indicated by reference character 20 and includes, broadly, a base or frame 2|v upon which are supported a plurality of knitting units 22, 23 and 24. While, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, a machine has been shown having a master knitting unit 22 and controlled knitting units 23 and 24, the number of controlled knitting units may be varied to produce, simultaneously, a different number of fabric webs than the three produced by the present machine.

As far as the general knitting structure is concerned, each of the controlled units 23 and 24 is substantially identical with the other and also with the master unit. This will more fully appear as the disclosure proceeds. As seen in Figure 4, there are stationary frame beds 21 and 28,. The front needle bed 29 is slidably mounted on the front stationary frame bed 21 for movement longitudinally of the machine 20 and said front needle bed may be shifted by actuation of the connecting bar 33 which joins the corresponding shiftable front needle beds of the controlled units. Shifting of the bar 30 to produce the desired type of stitches` is accomplished in a wellknown manner heretofore used on links and links machines of the present class. The bar 30 interconnects the three front needle beds so that they may be simultaneously shifted.

The front and rear needle beds are provided with a plurality of grooves 3 and 32 within which are located the needles 33, as Well` as the front and rear, and auxiliary jacks 34, 35 and 36, respectively. Obviously, the number of the grooves 3| and 32 will depend upon the width and gauge of the fabric `and the size of the machine. It may be noted here, however, that the carriages in their operational cycles make a complete traverse of the needle beds so that knitting may be Carried on for the full width lof the capacity of the machine. Where narrower fabrics are desired, the yarn controls feed the yarn for a lesser Width, as will more fully appear herein.

The front jacks 34 are provided with a series of butts 31 and 38, `and the rear jacks 35 have corresponding butts 39 and 40. The auxiliary jacks 33 have single butts 4|. These butts coact with the stitch cams on the carriages.

Disposed at the front and rear portions ofthe machine and supported above the beds 21 and 28V are the front and rear rails 42 and 43'. The cross-sectional conguration of these rails is seen in Figure 4 and they serve as tracks along which the main carriage 50 and the controlled carriages 5| and 52 ride.

The carriages are generally similar in construction with the master or main carriage 50, the carriage 5|)l having additional mechanism for controlling carriages 5| and 52. As seen in Figures 3 and 4, the carriage 50 has front and rear assemblies indicated generally by reference characters 53 and 54. The assemblies 53 and 54 are connected by an arched bridge 55. In the case of the master carriage 50, the bridge 55k supports the yarn control 56,. The front and rear assemblies 53 and 54 are built about the front and rear carriage plates 51 and 58. The front and rear base portions of the bridge 55 are secured to the upper surfaces of the plates 51 and 58 in any suitable manner, as by bolting.

The front and rear plates 51 and 58 are provided With a plurality of horizontally journalled rollers 59 and a plurality of vertically journalled rollers 60. The rollers 59 and 60 are adjustable so that the carriage SII-may follow a substantially rectilinear oscillatory course. A plurality of reciprocatable latches 6|- are shiftable inwardly and outwardly of the carriage to engage correspondingly positioned grooves in the rails 42 and 43. When in their extended position, these latches maintain the carriage in positive slidable engagement with the rails. When the latches 6| are retracted, they permit the vertical up-ward removal of the carriage from the rails.

Secured to the under-surface of the plates 51 and 58 by the bosses 62 and 63, and generally spaced and parallel with respect thereto, are the stitch cam supporting plates 64 and 65. The cams which col-act with the butts l31--4| are seen in Figure 7 in which the cams which depend from the front plate 64 are seen at the left of said figure and the cams which depend from the rear plate 65 are seen at the right of said figure. The arrangement of the stitch cams is such that when the carriage 50 (or the other carriages corresponding thereto) is moved to the right as the machine is faced from the fro-nt, said cams would move downwardhT as illustrated on Figure '7.

Assuming the carriage to be moving downwardly as last described, and the particular jacks 34 and 35 to be at the position indicated by the plane 8-8 on Figure 7, the butt 31 is just about to be struck by the switch or gate cam 10 while the butt 40 is about to be struck by the switch or gate cam 1|. These cams at that time are in their lowered or active position. The effect of the cams 10 and 1| and the movement of the carriage is to move the jacks 34 and 35 toward each other. In the position shown in Figure 8, which may be referred to as a normal position of the jacks, they are at rest and may be considered to be at the end of one knitting cycle and at the beginning of another. In this position, the rear hook 12 of the needle 33 carries the last formed loop 13 and the rear hook latch 14 is closed. The carriage continuing its downward (as viewed in Figure 7) movement, brings the butts 31 and 40 into contact with the cam surfaces and 16 of the cams 11 and 18. The jacks 34 and 35 are brought closer together and appear as shown in Figure 9, at which position the tip 19 of the forward portion 80 of the jack 35 opens and maintains open the latch 14.

` As the carriage proceeds downward (as viewed in Figure 1), the butts 31 and 38 are disposed between the cams 11 and 8|. In the case of the rear jack 35, the butt engages the straight portion 82 of the cam 18. The opening of the latch 14 makes way for the laying in of the yarn.

Further movement in the same direction of the carriage brings the parts to the position shown in Figure 10 in which the butts 31 and 38 are engaged between the cams 11 and 8| at the portions 82 and 83, said butts having been retracted (in this case, moved to the left) by the cam portions 84 and 85. At the same time, the portion 86 of the cam B1 has retracted from the knitting area the rear jack 35 so that the butt 39 now engages the cam portion 01. In this position of the needle and the jacks, the yarn is laid in and the brushes 88 and 89 facilitate this operation.

Continued movement of the carriage in the same direction brings the butt 38 into contact with the portion 90 of the stitch size cam 9|, which is shiftable forwardly or rearwardly as further appears herein. The farther forward (or to the left as viewed in Figure 7) the stitch cam 9| is moved, the longer will be the stitch in the finished material. At this time, the rear jack 35 is further retracted by the rear stitch size cam 92. The completion of the stitch occurs in the position indicated by Figure l1 and the butt 31 is engaged by the cam portion |82 and then moved toward the knitting area between the front and rear needle beds 29 and |9, respectively, by the cam portion |84 of the cam |11. This brings the front jack 34 to the normal position V(corresponding to Figure 9). The butts 39 and 40 on the rear jack 35 straddle the cam |18, the gate cam |1| being in its elevated or open position. The cams 8| and 81 and |8| and |81 are provided passages 94, 95, 96 and 91 which permit the needles 33 to be shifted from the front to the rear needle bed plates 29 and I9, respectively, or vice versa, for changing the character of the stitch. The shifting of the needles from one needle bed plate to another for this purpose is well known in the art and is controlled by the auxiliary jacks 36. The jacks 36, when in their normal or inactive position, are disposed in the rear-most portions of the grooves therefor in the rear needle beds I9, the butt 4| being Vpassed by the rear portions |0| and |02 of the needle transfer cams |03 and |04.

The auxiliary jacks 36 are shifted to the active position thereof by the contact of the rear tip |05 with a clip |06 (see Figure 4) secured to th hexagonal jacquard drum |01. The jacquard drum |31 is of a well-known type having orifices, into which the tips |03 may pass, and when it is desired to advance an auxiliary jack to an active position thereof, the particular orice is blocked by a clip |03. Where it is desired to expand the range of jacquard design cntrol, a relatively long annular chain, having a corresponding function (aligned orifices and clips) may be driven by a suitable polygonal drum. When the jacquard drum |01 advances the auxiliary jack, a relatively slight amount, the butt 4| thereon becomes engaged by the portion |08 of the cam |03. This butt 3| then has the effect of displacing the butt 40 (see the dot-dash lines in Figure 8) and the forward edge |09 contacts the rear edge I0 of the rear jack 35 so as to advance said jack from its normal course of travel, a distance equal to the distance between the rear edges of the butts 40 and 4 I. When the rear jack 35 is thus advanced, the downward projection rides up over and is engaged by the rear hook 12 of the needle 33 and when in passing between the stitch cams the rear jack 35 is moved rearwardly, it pulls Ithe needle 33 from the front needle bed 29 into the rear needle bed I9.

The jacks are frictionally retained within the grooves of the beds by laterally extending springs at the sides thereof (not shown) as is well known in the art to which the present invention relates. The jacks rest in these grooves under gravity. When the jacks are shifted longitudinally of themselves, any tendency thereof to rise except when they are going through the slots 94, 95, 96, and 91 is prevented by the shoulders 3|0, 3| I, 3|2, 3 i3, and 3|4, 3|5 and 3|6 which engage the under surfaces of the various cams which act upon the butts as followers. By this construction, independent needle latch openers and so-called wengels which overlie the forward portions of the jacks 36 or the corresponding inner ends of the jacks 34 are eliminated. Since the jacks are thus supported against vertical movement in the area of the butts, the portions of the jacks which engage the needles may iiex slightly upwardly, with a substantial reduction in damage of needles caused by jacks striking the needles, in such manner that jamming or damage to the needle or jack is materially reduced.

The iaeeiiard 101 may :be :mounted upon a .shaft v| (Figure l6) which is engaged in the slotted upper ends of :a plurality .of radial arms U2 are .-xed to the longitudinal shaft 1|| The shaft UI slidably rests 'upon the Supports 99 (Figure lea).

The gate 4 cams l0 and lll) `(Figure '7.) .as a coacting pair, are so ,arranged .that when one of them :is .down or in the closed .or acti-ve position thereof, the other one is in the open, upper `or .inactive position. 4The gate cams 1| ,and 11| .are substantially identical in structure and mode of lopenitidn vwith the cams lil and l. As seen in 'the lower vportion of Figure 3, lthe cam f1.0 is secusedtozthe lower end of a vertical pin v|111, having f a rearwardly projecting follower |15. Similarly, .the cam i219 has :a vertical pin i6 and afollower '19.1. The gate cams seek the lower or active position thereof Vunder the action of gravity, aided by expansive coil springs. 'The spring |.|-8 is `seen in Figure 4. Siidably disposed .upon the :upper surface of plate 5Fl is 1a member |19, provided with a left cam surface I| 29 anda rightcam surface |21. When the follower 117| or ||5 is restingupon the. upper surface of the-member I9, :the respective gate cam is elevated to its inactive position. The cam. surfaces |29 and ,12| are so -arranged ythat lthe elevated portion of either one of the cams is mutually exclusive with regard to ithe other. 'The member 1 i9 is maintained in an operative posi-tion by .the guides 1,22 and |23. lhe :member 5| 19 is shifted in position by the ends thereof |24 and |25 (Figure l-c), striking suitabile relatively stationary projections arranged in their rpath of travel.

`The stitch size cams ,9| and 92 are substantially identical in construction and operation and are shifted Vposition .by adjustable lingers such as the fingers |24, 125 and |26, which engage the follower |21, .projecting upwardly from the cam 19|, for example. The follower 12'1 may have as- .sociated therewith, suitable indicating means 12,8 to show Ithe vrelative position of the cani 9| in its :retracted-positions. The fingers 12d-|216 are adlustably secured to a bar :|29 by means of the screws, which penetrate slots Vin said fingers and 'threadedly engage said bar. The righthand end 4,of :the `har 129 is provided with stepped faces :1,38 :and |31 :and lying directly below the bar |29 :is another bar |32, having the stepped faces 133 and L34. The bars |32 and |29 are interconnected by a well known rack and pinion .device a1 35,;so :that vany one `of the vthree fingers, |24, v|25 .or :|26 may be selectively engaged with the fol- ;lower |251 lby means yof the dog |36 (Figure 2 1?) whidh is movably mounted with respect to the .frame 2li for movement forwardly or rearwardly Qf the machine, vbut is fixed longitudinally. The ,fdog v\| f36.;is'se enatthe right end of `Figure 'l-a. The .hars :|32 and |29 .are `slidaloly mounted in the .guides |37 and |38 which are secured to the top surface y,of the plate 5l. A similar structure is futilized fto shift the stitch cam 92 and includes 4the bars 22,9 `and 232 in the guides 237 and 238, andfngers v(only one 224 of which is seen). The stepped faces 230, 23|, 233 and 234 co-act with the `dog .236, while the -bars i229 and 232 are oprpositelymoved by the rackand-piniondevice 235.

. Asbestfseen inthe right end of Figure l.-a and .inFigure 6, the dogs |36 and 239 are pivotally mounted on the frame at |39 vand |49 and are adapted'to be partially rotated in a stepped mannerby Athe link `19| which interconnects the dogs .|36 and .2,36. The link 14| vis pivotally connected to the upper arm |42 .of a Abell crank action. The

-slower arm 43 is connected at its .router Iend to the flink |44, the lower end -of which is connected to the Ylever 1.4.5, The inner en d of the lever |45 is interengaged with the adjacent yend of an arm jfl-d6, the .other end of which terminates and is pivotally mounted at 1.4?! to the frame. Two sprocket shafts 14,8 and .|29 of well know-n -conlstruct-lori are utilized to control the sizes of the :stitches `of the knitted material by varying the position of the ystitch sizecams v9| and 92 by be.- ingselpedaround to rotate va number `of chains, :such .as the `chains 15,0 and 1F51. Each of these `chains carries 4the necessary number of lugs y|52 and .153 arranged `at intervals 4about the 1chain vand brought into contact with the lever M5 or (the arm |46 at the proper time and duration to :accomplish the desi-red shift of .the dogs 36 and 236. As shown in Figure l6, the link 1.4i, ,and hence the dogs |36 and 236, may .be shifted by a lug on either `of the vchains |56, |.5|, Adepending upon the positions of the lugs 52 and |53 thereon. 1f fa lug .on l'the chain 1.59 is engaged with thelever .14;5, the latter is rocked about .its pivot L54 independently .of the arm M6. On the .other hand, if a lug on the chain |51 vengages the arm M6, this raises the lever .145 lto have `a corresponding eli-ect.

Each xof ,the carriages 5| -and 52, see Figure l, is provided with .stitch size cams corresponding Vto those on :the master Vcarriage 5,9 vas .described .above and the bars 23-a, 229-11, `1229-1) and 22B-b are interconnected by the stitch -size Lcarri .links 1,55, |56, |51 and |58.

The yarn carrie-r changing structure, indicated generally by reference 4character 56, is best :seen in Figures 11a, ,3 and .4. The structure 56 is .mounted upon the ,carriage 5 9 and Atransmits :through ltheelongated yarn `carrier bars |61, .1.62, |53 vand `,|94 its yarn shitting effect. The carrier bars `are slidably mounted for ,reciprooation longitudinally lof the machine in the yarn bar .supports |66, 157, |198 .and A269. The bar sup.- ports 1163-1169 -are substantially identical and .extend upwardlyfrom `bridges Y| ,'12, .|13, |145 ,and -a lfourthone (not shown) below the lcarriage r5.2 in Figure 1, which ,are disposed at .the level of the stationary frame .beds .2l and 28. Each of :the .said `.yarn bar supports includes -a base |16, :a ,relatively narrow upright 11,7 and a slotted -head with a retainer plate secured ,to the head .to -hold Tthe ,bars lin place.

YEach -of the Abars 1LSL-|69 has three .yarn guides secu-red thereto, one for .eachof the ,knit- .ting -units 2:2, .2,3 Iand l29 .referred to hereinabove, lso that in Figure y3 there are 4*shown the guides |38, .1.89, 19,6 and ,|91 .for the .knitting .unit 22; in Figure -l there are shown .the guides |92, |93, |94 Aand :for unit 23 and the r.guides 1,96, |97, 4|99 `and |99 for unit 24, A detailed View of .the guide t9@ ,is seen .inlliguresiand 2.-a and .it comprises -anfofisetbracket l269 Acarrying ,a yarneye 29|, a Lconnector 262,.'a-nd a yarn .tube283- The particular yarn :264 ina-y Zbe .Supplied .from any well known-yarn rack-(notshown). Each of theother yarn guides is of substantially the samevconstI-tuction .as the ,guide 9 9 the .brackets varying in size and angularity to place `the yarn over the openneedle hooks=during `the knitting process.

Thus each lknitting .unit 22, v23 Aand 24 maybe served -Withiour-dilerent threadsor yarns which may vary in character asidesired. The yarn selected by the control is laid into ,the open :needle hooks ,of -theneedles ,33 .by Vtheyarn tube, such -as the tube2|l3 .being :moved along the knitting area between the front and rear cneedle beds. The

brushes 88 and 89 keep the latches open and -prevent the yarn from coming out of the hooks.

The particular yarn carrier bar being activated is moved along by reason of its engagement with the master carriage 50. This is accomplished by a series of four pins 206, 201, 209 and 299. The pins are vertically reciprocatable and have inactive upper positions and active lower positions. Each of the said pins 256-269 has a slidably and resiliently mounted lower terminal. See Figure 4 in which the terminal 2|! in the form of a sleeve as slidably mounted on the lower end of the pin 208 is seen. A spring 2|3 urges the terminal 2| I to its lowermost position. The terminal 2| I is provided with a slot 2|5 in which the projection 2 6-a from the pin 208 rides. This slot and projection limits the upper and lower travel of the terminal 2| l with respect to the pin 208. The terminals of the pins 206-299 coact with upward projections 2 i0, 2|2, 2 |4 and 2|6 on the bars ISI-|64, respectively. For example, with the pin 208 lowered to its active position and the carriage 50 about to travel to the right as viewed in Figures l-d and 3, the pin will engage the left end 2|3 of the projection 2 I4. The carriage then travels to the right and the bar |63 goes along with it.

There are eight sets of cams, 2|9, 220, 22|, 222. 223, 225, 226 and 221, which are adapted to stop the movement of the bars IBI-|64. These cams are pivotally mounted on extensions from the yarn bar supports. Thus, the cams 223 and 226 are mounted upon the extension 239. rlhe extensions 228 and 239 are longitudinally adjustable in position with respect to the yarn bar support |61. The cams 220 and 222 are mounted upon the extension 240, and the cams 225 and 221 are mounted upon the extension 24|. The extensions 240 and 24| are longitudinally adjustable in position with relation to the yarn bar support |66. While the carriages therefore make cornplete traverses of the entire needle bed lengths, the fabric need not be as wide as the needle bed is long but need be only as wide as the relative movement of a particular yarn guide. By the adjustment of the positions of the cams 2| 9--223 and 225-221, the width of the iinished material can be determined. The cams last mentioned are urged in the directions of the yarn bars to which they relate by springs such as the spring 242 and preferably suitable stops are provided, such as the stop 243 to prevent contact of the cams against the sides of the yarn bars. It is desirable that the cams be in close proximity to the yarn bars but not that they rub.

Returning to the engagement of the terminal of the pin 208 with the end 2 I8 of the projection 2|4, as described above, as the pin is carried to the right (see Figure 3) the long arm of the lever type cam 223 is deflected, against the tension of the spring 244, so as to allow the said pin to pass. When the carriage 50 reaches the right hand end of its travel (see Figure l-a) said pin 208 will be elevated by the cam 225 to its inactive or upper position. Action of the yarn selector control 36 may reactivate the pin 20B, or one of the other pins as will appear hereinbelow. On the return trip when the carriage 50 moves to the left, assuming that the pin '2 08 has `again been selected, it engages the right end 245 of the projection 2|4, the cam 225 will deflect to allow said pin to pass and at the end of the return trip the cam 223 will elevate the pin 208 to its inactive position. The other pins 206, '201, and 209 have i shown) similar to the chain |59.

10 a similar mode of operation with the cams and projections which they engage.

The selector 56 acts to lower the desired pin of the pins 205, 201, 208 and 209 to the active or yarn feeding position thereof. Each of these pins has (in addition to the movable terminals, corresponding to the terminal 2H) a head 246, 241, 248 or 249, an expansive coil spring 250, 25|, 242, 'and 253, and a laterally extending pintle 254, 255, 256 and 251, respectively. The shanks of the pins 25E-209 are vertically reciprocable in cylindrical bores in the block 258 (see Figure 5) and there are slots laterally extending from said bores within which the pintles 254-251 may move. A reciprocable latch plate 259 is longitudinallj,7 slidable in the rabbet 260 in the surface 26| of the block 25B. The block 258 is secured to the upper surface of the bridge 55. A guide 262 maintains the latch plate 259 in position. The latch plate 259 is urged forwardly by the coil spring 263, and has a plurality of cam surfaces 264 and notches 265. By virtue of the structure just described, the downward movement of any one of the pins 20E-299 causes its respective 1- pintle 254-2 51 to engage one of the cam surfaces 264 in turn shifting the latch plate 259 rearwardly. This releases any previously engaged pintle from a notch 265. As the pintle being lowered travels farther downwardly, it in turn becomes engaged by a notch 265, as the latch plate 259 is urged forward with a snap action.

The pins 295-269 are pressed to the lower or active position thereof by the long levers 26a-299, inclusive, respectively, which engage the pintles on said pins.

All of the levers 266-2 69 are pivotally mounted on the axle 210. The outer or rear ends of the levers 26E-269 are adapted to be selectively elevated by a plurality of vertically reciprocable rods 21|-214, inclusive, said rods being mounted within pairs of aligned orices in the U-shaped support 215. Suitable projections in the upper portions of the rods prevent them from dropping down excessively when they are not engaged by the cam 216. The U-shaped support 215 is secured to the rear vertical surface of the bridge 55. The cam 211 is similar to the cam 216 just noted, cam 211 being seen in Figure 1-a. Cams 216 and 211 have rearwardly directed rack-s 218 and 219, respectively, which engagea pair of gear trains, only one of which, the train 290 is seen, in Figure 4, and these gear trains are actuated by the shaft 28|. The right end 282 (see Figure 6) of the shaft 28| has a crank 283 which is pivotally connected by the link 284 to the crank 285, which is iixed upon -countershaft 286. Another crank 281 is connected through a link 288 to a lever 289 which is simil-ar to the lever |45. The lever is actuated by a chain control (not Thus, actuation of the lever 269 results in the simultaneous shifting in position of the cams 216 and '211, so that they engage the desired rods 21|-214. These in turn shift the levers 26S-269 to lower the desired pins 2962-299, thereby moving the desired yarn carrier bars I6 |-|64.

The main carriage has pivotally connected thereto, at the rear of said carriage, a yoke 29| which is detachably engageable with the slider 292. This connection, which is provided with a ball handle 392 may be such that upon overload the same will automatically disengage and preferably simultaneously break the 4circuit to the source of power for the machine. The slider 292 is slidably engaged upon the track 293 which is fixed to the frame of the machine and may be maintained in position by the supports 99'; A bracket 294 may -be supported by the track 293 and the supports 99 and upon the bracket are journalled a pair of sprockets 295 and 296; An annular sprocket chain 29T is carried by the sprockets 265 and 2&6, and said chain has a forwardly extending pin 29B which is vertically reciproc'able within a vertically arranged slot 299 in the block 380, the latter being xed to the slider 2Q2. The sprocket 296 is xed to a shaft (not shown) which carries the gear 361, and this gear may be driven by any suitable source of power, in timed correlation to the yarn selecting, jacquard needle shifting, and bed shifting mechanisms in a well known manner;

It may thus be seen that we have provided a novel and highly useful knitting machine and method of knitting. With a master unit, a plurality of controlled units duplicate the product of the master unit. By virtue of our means for controlling the shifting in position of thel needles from the front to the rear needle beds or vice versa, the third, jacquardv or rearmost jacks are guided in substantially the same groove or raceway by which the rear jacks are shifted. This reduces the number of cams and locks required and hence the size and weight of the carriage, making a more compact machine which, because of less friction, may be run at higher speed. By our novel double butt jacks, wear on the parts is materially reduced, with a consequent reduction in servicing and replacement and unproductive machine time. Only one yarn selector mechanism is required to control `all of the knitting units. In accordance with our invention, a single stitch cam element is used for knitting in both directions of movement of a. carriage, the cam element having two cam surfaces. This permits asmaller lighter carriage to be used. Undesirable pressure and wear on the needles is reduced owning to the positioning and support of the jacks obtained by the coaction of the shoulders beneath the butts on the jacks with the undersurfaces of the cams on the carriages.

We claim:

1. In a links and links knitting machine: a needle bed; a needle movably disposed on said bed; a jack having a pair of spaced butts projecting therefrom, said jack being movably supported by the bed and adapted to shift said needle; a carriage movable alongI said bed, said carriage having cam surfaces and an independently movable gate cam, adapted in an active position thereof to engage one of said butts and in an inactive position thereof to clear said butt; said gate cam being positioned in the line of motion of said cam surfaces; whereby when the gate cam is in the inactive position thereof said cam surfaces may pass between said butts, the jack remaining stationary.

2. In a links and links knitting machine: a needle bed; a needle movably disposed on said bed; a jack having a pair of spaced butts projecting therefrom, said jack being slidably supported by the bed and adapted to shift said needle in position; a carriage movable along said bed, said carriage having first and second groups of cam surfaces adapted to cause the needle to move in a direction toward making a stitch when the carriage is going in rst and second directions, respectively; first and second gate cams on said carriage adapted in their active positions to guide the jack into knitting positions and in their inactive positions to clear the jack, said gate cams being mutually exclusive` in the active positions thereof; said gate cams being positioned in the line of motion of said groups of cam surfaces; whereby when the rst gate cam is active and the carriage is moving in a first direction it guides the jack to engage the outer edges of the pair of butts with the first group of cam surfaces and the inner edges of the butts to engage the second group of cam surfaces, and when the second gate cam is active and the carriage is moving in a second opposite direction it guides the jack to` engage the outer edges of the pair of butts with the second group of cam surfaces and the inner 'edges of the butts to engage the rst group of cam surfaces.

3. In a links and links knitting machine: a needle bed; a needle movably disposed on said bed; a jack having a pair of spaced butts projecting therefrom, said jack being slidably sup-k ported by the bed and adapted to shift said needle in position; a carriage movable along said bed, said carriage having a stitch size cam and first and second groups of cam surfaces disposed on opposite sides of said stitch cam and adapted to cause the needle to move in a direction toward making a stitch when the carriage is going in first and second directions, respectively; first and second gate cams on said carriage located outwardly of the said groups of cam surfacesl and adapted in their active positions to guide the jack into knitting positions and in the inactive positions to clear the jack, said gate cams` being mutually exclusive in the active positions' thereof said gate cams being positioned in the line of motion of said groups. of cam surfaces; whereby when. the rst gate camr is active and the carriage is moving in a rst direction guides the jack to engage the outer edgesY of the pair of butts with the rst group of camr surfaces and the inner edges of the butts to engage the secondv group of cam surfaces, and when the second gate cam is active and the carriage is' moving in a second opposite direction it guides the jfack to engage the outer edges of the pair of butts with the second group of cam surfaces and the inner edges of the butts to engage the 'rst group of cam surfaces; said stitch cam having first and. second oppositely disposed stitch size cam. surfaces, the last mentioned first surface being engageable with the outer edge of one of said butts when the carriage is moving in a first direction and the last mentioned second surface being engageable with the last mentioned outer edge of the butt when the carriage isk moving in a second direction.

4. In a links and links knitting machine: a needle bed; a needle movably disposed on said bed; a jack having a butt projecting therefrom, said jack being movably supported by the bed and adapted to shfi'ft said needle; and means in the form of a carriage movable along said bed and adapted to shift said jack in. position, said carriage having a pair of cam. surfaces spaced. longitudinally of the bed and a stitch size cam disposed therebetween; said stitchsize cam being movable and having twol oppositely disposed size cam surfaces, one engageable with said butt when the carriage is moving in one direction and the other engageable with said butt when the carriage is moving in the opposite direction; and means to move said size cam so as to equally affect the size of the stitch produced by the needle irrespective of the direction of motion of the carriage.

5. In a links and links knitting machine, a

13 needle bed with a jack and needle groove; a needle; a jack in said groove and adapted for detachable engagement with said needle, said jack having a raised shoulder and a butt projecting from said shoulder; a carriage movable over said bed and having cams with edge cam surfaces and bottom relatively planar surfaces; said edge cam surfaces, as said carriage is moved, engaging the vertical edges of said butts to shift them along; and said relatively planar surfaces of the cams engaging the upper surfaces of the shoulder to maintain said jack in said groove.

MICHAEL ZIMIC.

ANTON MISKOVSKY.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Zimio Dec. 19, 1933 Eichner July 11, 1939 Thurston Apr. 20, 1943 Wildil Nov. 7, 1944 Hayhurst Mar. 5, 1946 Fregeolle Mar. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Oct. 21, 1933 

